EVERY council taxpayer in Birmingham could see significant increases in their bills to pay for the Government's army of "plastic police".

EVERY council taxpayer in Birmingham could see significant increases in their bills to pay for the Government's army of "plastic police".

Police chiefs have told the Home Office that unless they get funding for up to 1,000 new community support officers, they could pull out of a recruitment agreement.

The move puts West Midlands Police Authority at odds with a Government pre-election pledge to see 24,000 PCSOs on the beat across Britain by 2008.

PCSOs, disparagingly dubbed Plastic Police and Blunkett's Bouncers, are the cornerstone of Labour's plan to retake the streets from yobs blighting the lives of law-abiding communities.

Part-funded by the Home Office, they receive lower wages and less training than proper officers and have only limited powers.

There are concerns the force could be faced with a financial black hole running into the millions if they have to foot the bill.

The Home Office has already asked if the officers could be paid for through efficiency savings, which has been ruled out.

West Midlands Police Authority warned they would have to review the funding situation before committing to the second-year round of recruitment.

In a written response to the Home Office, the Authority said they remained "cautious about accepting the financial consequence, which will mean either significant priority changes in the budget or a consequent increase in council tax precept".

A report on the Neighbourhood Policing Fund, before the Authority today, suggests that members seek guarantees about funding.